Bottle washing apparatus



A Du. 2, 1941.

A. s. JAcKsoN Erm.

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Bec. 7, 1939 ATTOR YS 6 Sheets-Sheet l L3-Jack@ (f/769726- JJMMM INVENTORS De@ 2; 1941 A. JACKSON E-rAL 2,265,115

BOTTLE WASHING APPRATUS Filed nec. 7, 1959 -s sheetsheet 2 INVENTORS BY/@V f ATTORN S beez, 1941. A. s. JACKSQN Em 2,265,115

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. '7, 19:59

6 Sheets-.Sheet 5 ClAHeyzzetfRz/Gvzdm -lNvENToRs ATTORN S 2, 1941; A. s. JAcKsoN l-:rAL

:I BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS e sheets-sheet 4 Filed Dec. 7, 1939 A. Sabe/kdm @.Heyne .IJc/znqm' INVENTORS WW n y ATTO Dee. 2, 1941. 4 A. s. JACKSON ET Al. 2,255,115

BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS ATTO YS Dec. 2, 1941. A. s. JACKSON ETAL 2,255,115

y BOTTLE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. '7, 1959 6 Sheets-Shee't A .Sxac'dm C A Heyne |NvENToRS ATTOR Ys a -\||||||1 ---Il 91." wunuunn n nfld. b T-Ill n. .0 I Jn. MMHJI 2 O 1 O O. --.MVV

[l I l. l L l l rn l l i l I Patented Dec. 2, 1941 2,265,115 BOTTLE WASHING ArrAnATUs Albert S. Jackson, Wood River, and Clarence A.

Heyne and John R. Johnson, Alton, Ill., assignors to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, a

corporation of Ohio Application December '7, 1939, Serial No. 368,044

1s claims. (ci. 15-64) The present invention relates to improvements in bottle washing machines and more particularly to. a washer of the immersion type adapted to automatically remove misprinted or smeared colored'designs, labels, and similar decorations from the exterior surface of the bottle before they have been permanently baked thereon. Varions' types of paint or enamel coloring material are employed in this decorating operation.

An object of the invention is the provision of a continuously rotating machine adapted to receive bottles on which decoration or printing has been improperly applied or smeared due either to handling or defective operation of the decorating machine, and immerse them automatically ilrst into a solvent solution and then a rinsing bath.

Another object is the provision of means submerged in the several baths for mechanically aiding in the removal of undesirable surface decoration.

A further object is the provision of novel wareholding means for automatically grasping and releasing the bottles at the loading and unloading station and capable of handling a wide range of sizes of articles without adjustment. n i

Another object will become apparent during the course of the following description:

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through the bottle washer;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the cleaning brush holder taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the apparatus with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of an intermediate ware squeegee showing a bottle passing thereover;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the bottle in cleansing position;

Fig. 6 illustrates a modied form of squeegee;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through a bottle holding chuck' in closed position;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the chuck in open or loading position;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the mechanism for rotating the chucks;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational view of the chuck supporting mechanism taken on line lil--l on Fig. 8;

Fig. l1 is a plan view ofthe solvent and rinsing tanks; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line lZ--IZ of Fig. 1l.

The apparatus illustrated inthe accompanying through the tank drawings is particularly adapted for use where quantities of bottles of the type generally used for beverages are handled. The art of applying surface decoration to beverage bottles of all types is rapidly gaining favor over the use of gummed labels or the more expensive cutting of special molds for the manufacture of the ware. The decorating art has so far developed that surface decoration when once applied to the bottle and baked or otherwise fused thereon becomes practically indestructible. Several methods of applying color to glassware may be employed, the one most generally used being the silk screen process which employs ceramic pigments in a plastic or semi-fluid state. After the color is applied to the ware, it must pass through an oven at a comparatively high temperature to fuse the pigment to vthe glass. Until the decorated ware reaches the oven, the color remains more or less soft and is readily smeared by accidental contact with other ware or by inadvertent handling. It occasionally happens that an inaccuracy will develop in the decorating machine, thus causing a misprint of the design or lettering being applied which will remain unnoticed until several bottles have passed through the machine. The decorating machine operator usually cannot spare sumcient time :from his duty to do more than remove the smeared ware from the production line. The smeared or off-ware may then be collected and removed to a point where it may be properly cleaned and prepared for redecoration.

` At times when much ware is being handled by a numberof decorating machines, the amount of oli-ware rapidly increases. The time consumed in cleaning the smeared ware by hand soon becornes excessive and the elimination of much of the previous effort is accomplished by the machine forming the basis of this invention. The apparatus briefly, includes a continuously rotating table having a plurality of bottle holding devices thereon into which the neck of the bottle to becleaned is inserted. The bottles are lowered to submerge the smeared surface in a solvent solution and' are rotated while so submerged, against a series of brushes which, with the aid of squeegees, tend to remove the decoration softened by the solvent. The bottles are then transferred to a rinsing bath for iinal cleansing before removal from the machine. A detailed description of the apparatus immediately follows.

Referring to Figs. l, 3, 9, and 11 of the accompanying drawings, the machine embodying our invention includes a base I5 of channel and I-beam construction on which a vertical stationary column |6 is mounted. The column I6 rotatably supports a circular table on which is mounted a plurality of ware-holding chucks I8. The table is rotated continuously in a clockwise direction by means of an adjustably mounted drive motor I9 and speed reduction gearing 2D which carries a drive pinion 2| meshing with an internally toothed ring gear 22 secured to the under side of the table The chucks IB for holding the bottles are adapted to be independently moved vertically through an arc of approximately 60 (Figs. 3, 7, and 8). The chucks are elevated (FigsVS and 8) at the loading and unloading4 station and are lowered to immerse the smeared or decorated surface of the bottles in the solvent and rinsing solutions. Each chuck unitv |8 (Figs. `'7, 8and 9*) includes a supporting member 25 or frame bolted to the table and provided with bearing blocks 26 rotatably supporting a shaft 21 or spindle to which the chuck heads 28 are connected. 'Ihe outer end of the spindle support is provided with ears 3|) to which chuck operating levers 3| in the form of bell cranks are pivoted by means of a hinge pin 32. The chuck head 28 includes a cylindrical cup-shaped holding member 33 formed of a spring material and saw-slotted to form a plurality of gripping nngers 34. A shaft 35 or shank formed on and extending from the'base of the cup and injaxial alignment therewith, is connected to the drive spindle 21 by a universal coupling 36.', A chuck sleeve 38 surrounds the cup and shaft and vis slidable thereon for causing the normally expanded ngers 34 to-contract and grasp the bottle iinish or neck, as the sleeve is moved in the direction of the cup as will be described presently. A resilient bushing 39 disposed within a retaining ring 40 is held in place withinthe cup 33 by a bottle centering pin 4| threaded linto the base of the cup. This bushing simply provides a cushion whichengagesthebottle finish and prevents chipping thereof such as might otherwise occur during placing of bottles inthe chucks.

Mechanism for actuating the sleeve 38 which contracts the chuck fingers (Figs. 7, 8, and 10) includes a separable ring 43 having secured therein a rotatable bearing 44 slidably mounted on'the sleeve 38. A coilspring 45 surrounds the sleeve between the bearing 44 and a shoulder formed by thecup-shaped portion of the sleeve. The spring vprovides a yielding connection between the Ysleeve 38 and slidable ring 43. YA nut 46 threaded on the inner end of the sleeve provides forA positively opening the chuck.4 Bosses 41 formed on opposite sides of the ring 43 are adapted for pivotal connection to the outwardly extending arms 3|iV of the operating levers 3|.

It will be noted by referringto Figs. '7 and'8 particularly-that the pivotal pointY 32 of'the levers 3| and ears 3l) is located outwardly from and below the pivot of thecoupling 36 to which the chuck head 28 is connected.r` Thus, asthe chuck'is lowered below the horizontal plane: of the coupling, the :ring 43 is Amoved forward" in relation tothe shaft" 35 which compresses the spring 45 and through the latter moves the sleeve 38 outwardly'into'positin to contract the ngers 34. Upon elevation of the chuck above a horizontal plane, the bearing 44 engages the nut 46 (Fig. 8)` to draw the sleeve inwardly and thereby allow the fingers to open for removal of a cleansed bottle vand reception of a Vbottle which is to be cleansed.

The raising and lowering of the chuck is accomplished by means of a slide bar 48 movable radially of the machine between guides 49 (Figs. 1 and 3). The outer end of the bar is connected by a link 56 to the downwardly extending arms of the levers 3|. The inner end of the bar 48 (Figs. 1, 3, and 9) is provided with a cam roller 52 running in a cam 53 formed on a stationary plate 54 which is keyed to the column I6. 'I'he cam is shaped to operate through the cam rollers and slide bars to raise the chucks to the elevated position at a combined loading and unloading station A (Figs. 1, 3, and 11) and lower them for immersion of the bottles in the several solutions. The container for the solutions is divided into several compartments as will be brought out presently, thereby necessitating raising the bottles sufficiently to clear the separating partitions.

Continuous rotation of the chuck is accomplished by means of a beveled pinion 55 pinned to the chuck spindle 27 and meshing with a ring gear 56 bolted to a supporting spider 5l (Fig. 9) The spider is rotatably mounted on the column I6 and is supported thereon on bearings 58 mounted on the stationary plate 54. A ring gear 60 bolted to the spider meshes with a gear 6| keyed on the upper end of av shaft 62 which is journalled in the plate 54. The shaft carries on its lower end, a second gear 63 meshing with an internal ring gear' 64 bolted to the table As thetable travels in a clockwise direction, gears 6| and 63 are rotated in a like manner, thus imparting motion in a counter-clockwise direction through the external gear 66 to the spider 5l. It will be noted that rotary motion is thus transmitted to the chuck spindles ina clockwise direction for reasons which will become apparent presently.

Bottles to be cleansed are placed in the chucks at the loading station A (Fig. 11) and are lowered by the cam 53 into an arcuately shaped tank 65, or trough, which substantially surrounds the table I1 and is spaced a slight distance therefrom. The tank is divided into separate compartments as shown in Fig.Y 11, the rst and preferably larger section 66 containing a suitable solvent solution. The center section 6'! may be employed for either additional solvent or a primary rinsing, both depending upon the ability of the solvent to completely disintegrate the color pigment. 'I'he last section 68 contains a rinsing bath for removing the coating of solvent or any particles adhering to the surface of the ware.

Additional means for aiding in the removal of color from the bottles include a series of brushes 'l0 removably supported within the tanks and disposed at an angle to the bottom thereof. Each brush comprises a bristle holder or plate having rows of bristles 12 secured thereto at a slight angle to the plate. In Fig. 3 the first group of brushes is shown with the bristles removed for the purpose of clearly disclosing the angularpositioning of these brushes. The bristles are formed preferably from a non-corrosive or rust-resistant metal and have their ends bent at approximately a right angle 13 in the direction of the approaching ware as shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that as a bottle passes the brush the turned ends of the bristles will exert a greater scraping action against the surface than would normally straight bristles. The brush holders are spaced sufciently close together to create a substantially continuous brushing action as the bottles pass through the solvent, thereby removing the pigment as itis dissolved. 'The level oi thesolvent is'rnaintained at aheight to adequately cover the brushes and a substantial portion of the ware passing therethrough; RotationV of the ware as it passes over the brushes augments the cleansing action of both the bristles and solvent.

1 As the bottles are passing over the brushes they are subjected to further wiping by periodical contact with squeegees 15 formed of a resilient material,` such as for example, sponge rubber or the like. The squeegees are mounted in' holders 16 which are secured to the rim of the tank 65(Figs. 5 and 9). A modiedl form of squeegee illustrated in Fig. 6 includes a holder 18 arranged to support a pair of rubber squeegees between which the bottle must pass. It may at times be found desirable to replace one or more brushes with a squeegee of this type. y

The bottles when passing from one tankto the other, are raised momentarily to a substantially horizontal position as they pass over the partition and while in this position are wiped over a squeegee 19 extending upwardly from the partition to which it is secured. This wiping action drains excess fluid from the surface of the ware and tends to eliminate contamination of the liquid in succeeding tanks. During such positioning the chucks are contracted to firmly hold the bottles.

The action of both solvent and rinsingliquids may be increased by heating to a predetermined temperature and for this purpose We propose to employ electrical immersion heaters 89), one of which is indicated in Fig. 5. It will be understood that to maintain the desired temperature, several such heating units may be necessary for each section of the tank.

The tank sections $6, 61, and 68 are each provided with drain openings 82y for' use when it becomes necessary to remove sediment or change the solutions. The rinsingv tank 68 is provided with an overow trough 83 to compensate for the constant addition of water through a supply pipe 84. The water is permitted to ow slowly from the pipe through a plurality of ports 85` or holes drilled therein, thus producing a circulation of clean water within the tankv so that contamination of the rinsing bath may be reduced to a minimum.

Modifications 4may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In an apparatus of the character described, a continuously rotating table, an annular series of bottle holders carried by said table each including a chuck, a stationary tank partially encircling the table and containing a cleaning iluid, means for actuating said holders to lower and raise bottles into and out of the tanks, and means iorming a part of each holder for actuating the chuck to automatically grasp and release the bottles.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a table, means for continuously rotating the table about a vertical axis, a plurality of ware holding chucks carried by said table, a stationary sectional tank partially encircling the table for holding a cleaning fluid, means for actuating said chucks to lower and raise ware held therein into and out of the tank, and means for automatically opening and closing said chucks at a combined loading and unloading station.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a table mounted for rotation about a verticalstationary central column, means for'imparting .continuous rotary motion to the table, a plurality of rotatable ware holding chucks secured. to' the table,'the1axisof said chucks being disposedV ina substantially horizontal plane, a stationary sectional tank partially encircling the table for holding a'cleaning fluid, means for actuating said-chucks to lower and raise ware held therein into and out of the tank, means ior automatically openingand closing said chucks at a combined loading and'- unloading station, and means-for continuously rotating the chucks about their individual` axes.l p l 4: apparatus` of the character described,

comprising a table mounted for rotation about a vertical stationary column, means for continuously rotating: saidl table, a' series of rotary bottle holding chucks carried by the table, a segmental stationary trough partially encircling thetable and adaptedV to contain cleaning liquids, means for raising and lowering said chucks at predetermined intervals to immerse ware carried thereby in the liquids in succession, means for continuously rotating thel chucks about their individual axes, and means for Iautomatically opening and closing said chucks at a combined loading and unloading station. .5. A bottle washing apparatus of the character described, comprising arotatable table, means for continuously rotating the table', radially disposed rotary bottleholdingchucks carried by the table, means for 'continuously rotating said chucks in a substantiallyhorizontal plane about their individual" axes, asectional stationary trough partially' encircling the table andV adapted to contain solventand rinsing solutions respectively, means for,` lowering saidA chucks to immerse ware carried therebyv into said solutions in succession, mechanical means disposed within the trough for accelerating cleansing ofthe bottles, and means for automatically opening and closing said chucks atacombin'ed loadingw and unloading station.

6'. A bottle Washing apparatus of the character described, vcomprising a rotatable table, means for continuously rotating said table, radially disposed r'ot'ary bottle` holding chucks carried by the table, means for continuously rotating said chucks asubstantially horizontal plane about their A.individual axes,^ a sectional stationary trough' partiallyencircling the table and adapted to contain solvent and rinsing solutions respectively, means for lowering said chucks to immerse Ware carried thereby into said solutions in succession",4 brushes disposed within the trough adapted to contact the moving surface of the Ware'formechanically accelerating cleaning of the. bottles, means engaging the ware at regular intervals forremoving particles loosened by the solvent andbrushes.. and means for automatically opening". and closing saidy chucks at a combined loading andv unloading station.

7. VA- bottleD washing 'apparatus` of the character described, comprising a table mounted for rotation about avertical axis, means for imparting continuous rotary motion to said table, a plurality of rotary bottle holding chucks carried by the table and projecting radially outward therer fromi means for causing continuous rotation of the chucks about their individual axes during movement of the table, a stationary arcuate tank adapted to contain a solvent solution disposed adjacent one side of the table, a rinsing tank disposed on the opposite side of said table, means forswinging said chucks and the bottles held therein'vertically to immerse the ware in said tanks insuccession, and means for opening and closing said chucks to receive and discharge th bottles. L y 1 8. A bottle washing apparatus of the character described, comprisinga table mounted for rotation 'about a vertical axis, meansfor imparting continuous rotary motion to said table, a plurality of rotary bottle holding chucks carried by the table and projecting radially outward therefrom, means for vcausing continuous rotation of the chucks about their individual axes during movement of the table, la stationary arcuate e tank adapted to contain a solvent solution disposed adjacent one si-de of the table, a rinsing tank disposed on the opposite side of said table, means for swinging said chucks and the bottles held therein vertically to-immerse the ware in said tanks in succession, means f disposedwithin `each tank adapted to contact the bottles when lowered therein to mechanically aid the detergent action of the solutions, and means `for opening and closing said chucks to receive and discharge the bot- 1318s; Y Y

9. -An apparatus for'removing mis-applied and uniired surface decoration from glass articles comprising a table mounted for rotation abouta vertical axis, means for continuously rotating said table, a stationary arcuate tank adapted to contain a pigmentY dissolving solution disposed adjacent one side` of the tablearin sing tank disposed on the opposite side of said table, rotary article holding chucks carried by the table and projecting-radially outward therefrom above said tanks, means for continuously rotating the chucks, aboutrtheir individual axes, meansv for swinging said chucks verticallyto immerse the articles and transferthem kfrom one tank tothe other in succession, and means for automatically openingand closing the chucks at a combined loadingand unloading station. n

VV10.l An apparatus for removing mis-applied and uni-lredV surface decoration from glass articles comprising a tablernounted for rotation about a vertical axis, means Vfor continuously rotating said table, a stationaryarcuate tank adapted to contain `a` pigment dissolving solution disposed adjacent oneI side of the tabl?, a rinsing tank disposed on the oppositesideof said tableprotary 'article holding chucks carriedV by the table and projecting radially outward therefrom above said tanks, means for continously rotating the chucks about their individual axes,`a plurality of brushes having4 upstanding: bristles disposed within the tanks below the surface level of the solution, said bristles having their tips ,bent at substantially right angles inthe direction of the approaching articles, meansfor swinging said chucks in a verticalplane t0 immerse the articles and bring them intocontact with the bent tips of thebristles whereby to accelerateV cleaning lof the bottles, said swinging means being further Vadapted to elevate the articlesv for transfer fromfone tank to the otheruand means forautomatically causing the chucks to` grasp and release the articles at a station between the ends of said tanks. Y

11. AA n apparatus `for removing mis-applied and unnred surface decorationfrom glass articles fcomprisinga Vtable mounted `for rotation vabolita vertical axis, means forcontinuously rotating said table', la stationary arcuate tank adapted to containL a pigment dissolving solution disposed adjacent one side of the table, a rinsing tank dis` posed on th'e opposite side of said table, rotary article holding chucks carried by the table and projecting radially outward therefrom above said tanks, means for continuously rotating the chucks about their individual axes, a plurality of brushes having upstanding bristles disposed within the tanks below the surface level of the solution,fsaid bristles having their tips bent at sub# stantially right angles in the direction of the ap proaching articles, means for swinging said ch'ucks in a vertical plane to immerse the articles and bring` them into contact with the bent tips of the bristles whereby to accelerate cleaning of thebottles, said swinging means being further adapted `to elevate the articles for transfer from one `tank to thev other, means cooperatingwith saidbrushes for wiping loosened partially dissolved particles from the surface of the articles, and means for automatically causing the chucks to grasp and release the articlesl at a station betweenthe ends of said tanks. .t k l2. In a bottle washing apparatus of the character described, a table mounted forL rotation about a vertical axis, stationary arcuately shaped solvent and rinsing solution containing tanks partially encircling the table, bottle holding chucks carried by said table and projecting radially and outward therefrom, k means for automatically swinging said chucks vertically to alternately immerse and remove bottles into and from the solu'- tions, reach Asaid chuck including an expansible cylindrical bottle holding head, and a sleeve slidablymounted on the head and movable in response yto said swinging motion to alternately contract the headinto holding engagement with a bottle placed therein and release said head to thereby automatically `release the bottles atY a discharging station. l 1

13.l In arbottle washing apparatus of the character described, a table l.mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, stationary arcuately shaped solvent and rinsing solution containing tanks partially encircling the table, bottle holding chucks carriedl by said table and projecting radially and outward therefrom, means for automatically swinging said chucks vertically to alternately immerseand remove bottles into and fromV the solu-` tions,- each said chuck including a cylindrical cup-shaped head, the wall of which is slotted to form a plurality of resilient bottle engaging iingers, a sleeve slidably mounted on the head and i, movable in response to said swinging motion;to

engage and alternately contract the iingers into holding engagement with a bottle placed therein at a loading station and release said head to thereby automatically release the bottles ata discharging station, and means for imparting continuous rotary motion to the chucks-about their individual axes.

14. In a bottle washing apparatus of the character described, a trough adapted to contain a cleaning fluid, a table, a series of bottle holding chucks, on the table movable in a path above said trough, means for imparting continuous rotary motion to the chucks abouttheir individual axes, each said chuck including a horizontal driving shaft journaled in a supporting frame bolted to the table, a `cylindrical cup-shaped head having a shank formed thereon universally coupled to said shaft, the side wall of Vsaid head being slotted to forma plurality of resilient bottle engaging iingers, asleeve slidably mounted on the head and shankadaptedv at times to operatively engage and compress said ngers'about a bottle neck, a

ring slidably mounted for limited axial movement on that portion of the sleeve overlying the shank, a chuck operating level` pivoted for vertical swinging movement at its inner end onv the supporting frame and at a point outwardly from and beneath the coupling of said shank and shaft, whereby upward movement of said lever above the horizontal plane of said shaft causes the sleeve to be drawn inwardly to bottle releasing position and conversely the lowering of said lever operates to close said fingers, and means for automatically moving said lever at predetermined times.

15. Apparatus ofthe character described comprising an arcuate trough, transverse partitions dividing the trough into compartments, each compartment containing a cleaning fluid, an annular series of bottle holders movable in a path concentric with and above said trough, means for moving the holders continuously, means for moving the holders vertically at regular intervals to thereby lower bottles supported thereon into the compartments in succession and means for actuating the holders at a combined loading and unloading station to release cleansed bottles :and position the holders to receive bottles which are to be cleansed.

16. Apparatus of the character described comprising an arcuate trough, transverse partitions dividing the trough into compartments, each compartment containing :a cleaning uid, an annular series of bottle holders movable in a path concentric with and above said trough, means for moving the holders continuously, means for oscillating the holders vertically at regular intervals to thereby lower bottles supported thereon into the compartments in succession and means for actuating the holders at a combined loading and unloading station to release cleansed bottles and position the holders to receive bottles which are to be cleansed.

17. In apparatus of the character described, a trough adapted to contain a cleaning uid, a series of bottle holders movable in a path above the trough, each holder including a. normally expanded chuck adapted to be contracted about the neck of a bottle, a carrier for each chuck extending radially inward therefrom and including means for imparting continuous rotation to the chuck about its longitudinal axis, a bell crank lever for imparting vertical movement to the chuck and a portion of the holder, means for rocking said lever, and means operable in response to said vertical movement of the lever for effecting alternate expansion and contraction of the chuck.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a trough adapted to contain a cleaning fluid, a series of bottle holders movable in a path above the trough, each holder including a normally expanded chuck adapted to be contracted about the neck of a bottle, a carrier for each chuck extending radially inward therefrom and including means for imparting continuous rotation to the -chuck yabout its longitudinal axis, a bell crank lever for imparting vertical movement to the chuck and a portion of the holder, means for rocking said lever, and means operable in response to said vertical movement of the lever for effecting alternate expansion and contraction of the chuck, said last named means including a sleeve movable to a position for contracting the chuck and devices connected to and movable by said bell crank lever during the aforementioned vertical movement of the holder for actuating said sleeve.

ALBERT S. JACKSON. CLARENCE A. HEYNE. JOHN R; JOHNSON. 

